Thursday, April 24, 2008

Yes, I know it's been almost a month since I posted (okay, I didn't realize it had been quite that long, but I knew it had been a while), and yes, I know a lot of you have begun to wonder if I fell off the face of the earth. Well, I did - kind of...I just landed in my house...

Those that know me personally know that I am admittedly a very bad housekeeper and a pack-rat to boot. To put it mathematically:

me = bad housekeeper + pack-rat = scary, scary house full of stuff

I've hated living this way, especially when I remember the days BC (Before Children, for you non-parental units out there) of a clean house where I could entertain on a whim. I yearn for the day I can have friends over for dinner, or host a Women's Ministries meeting in my home. I'm by nature a very hospitable, sanguine person, so not being able to invite people into my home is torture for me. Sadly, children, volunteering, and mental hang-ups have left me...well, tortured.

NO MORE!!!

One of the moms at the kids' school that I've worked with on the Parent Teacher Partnership is a professional organizer. She found out that I sew. Do I really need to spell it out for you???

T-R-A-D-E

She's doing my entire house (1200 square feet with 2 adults, 3 children, 1 cat, and 12 years of accumulation), then I'll make her some dresses; probably some pillows; put together a new website; design and print business cards; and probably redesign/tweak her logo...and be grateful for the absolute rest of my life.

It took two weeks to hit the halfway mark. We have literally touched everything we've approached. Nothing is left undecided-upon. It is physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting. We are entering week three and hope to be finished with the entire project by the end of next week.

As tiring as it's been though, it's also been exhilarating and freeing for me. There was a noticeable difference by the end of the first week, and after the second week, you wouldn't think the same family lived in the house. We've worked only two days this week so far, and walking into my living room (a large 20x20 or so room with a 14-foot ceiling that housed everything) is like suddenly finding yourself atop a mountain with panoramic views. You just take a deep breath and feel so incredibly free and light. It is So. Much. Better. than before when I subconsciously dreaded walking into my house and felt like it was attacking me.

So anyway, stay tuned, Dear Readers, and know that before and after pictures will be forthcoming!